Ruffin calls it for Trojans

Adam Gorney | Recruiting Analyst

Once the USC coaching staff saw film on Jabari Ruffin they wanted to offer the Downey, Calif., outside linebacker and since the Trojans have always been a favorite the 6-foot-4, 230-pound prospect wanted to visit campus as soon as possible.

USC offered Tuesday night, Ruffin was on campus Wednesday and the Downey standout ended up committing the same day.

"Last night they offered me after they saw my highlights and I got excited about it but I held it in and asked myself if that's really what I wanted to do," Ruffin said. "After I thought about it all day, I reminded myself that's where I wanted to go since I was in diapers.

"I went for an unofficial visit (Wednesday) and it was a wrap. I met the coaches and it felt like home and I learned a lot more than I already knew about the SC tradition, the SC family. It's just a family and it feels like home. I don't regret my decision at all."

Because of that, Ruffin said an offer meant even more and that was another reason why he didn't waste any time thinking about delaying his decision.

"I'm real confident about it," Ruffin said. "They might only be giving out 15 scholarships this year and I'm one of them. I'm the only linebacker recruit they have in California and I'm one of the top on the list. That means a lot and it's a big deal.

"They hadn't seen film on me and they didn't hear about me. When they saw the film, it was a wrap. When they saw the film it was like, 'Say no more. Where is he at?' I planned an unofficial visit today and that was basically it. I committed."

Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State, UCLA and Washington also offered Ruffin, who said he plans to take some official visits next season but that he's happy with USC.